Venus Williams, Sania Mirza, and Nadia Petrova will be participating in the Hopman Cup, which runs from December 30th until Januarty 5th.

This year’s teams include:

• Australia: Alicia Molik and Mark Philippoussis
• Croatia: Sanja Ancic and Mario Ancic
• Czech Republic: Lucie Safarova and Tomas Berdych
• Germany: Martina Muller and Nicolas Kiefer
• India: Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna
• Russia: Nadia Petrova and Dmitry Tursunov
• Spain: Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo
• USA: Venus Williams and Mardy Fish

Match schedule can be found here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Williams, Mirza, Petrova at the Hopman Cup

Maria Sharapova won with 42% of the votes.

Not a bad year for Maria Sharapova ;)

(If you’re curious, Tiger Woods won male best smile)

Via | Mosnews

Post from: EveryJoe

Maria Sharapova: World’s Best Smile

Take your pick over the obvious choices:

• Justine
• Maria
• Amelie
• Svetlana
• Nadia

Or vote for the underdog:

• Other

I’d be interested to see what ‘others’ people come up with. Martina Hingis, maybe? Does she have what it takes to end number one or has her ship sailed? Maybe even Elena Dementieva?

Well, I’m biased, but I’d love to see Amelie Mauresmo finish first. She played so well last year and it’s a shame she didn’t manage to finish with a bang. Sharapova and Henin-Hardenne will probably stay in the top five, I’m guessing. But maybe Lindsey Davenport will make a comeback?

I’m excited to find out!

Who do you think will end number 1?

Post from: EveryJoe

What WTA Player Will Finish No.1 in 2007?

It’s hardly the next Harry Potter, but its nice for a skim-through.

Enjoy. ;)

Via | WTA World

Post from: EveryJoe

The 2007 WTA Rulebook

The Ambassador for Tennis award recognizes players that go above and beyond the call of duty to advance tennis worldwide.

But why Amelie Mauresmo and not Justine Henin-Hardenne?

A true humanitarian, Mauresmo is a contributor to the Curie Institute of France (for cancer research) as well as the Phil Collins Little Dreams Foundation. She also finds extra time to promote the sport that she has been playing since the age of four that earned her ITWA’s prestigious Ambassador for Tennis award.

“Amelie is a hugely popular amongst those who cover the sport and a real asset to the game,” said ITWA’s co-President Eleanor Preston. “Her candour, wit and intelligence has earned the affection and admiration of the public and media alike.”

ITWA board member Cecile Soler of France’s Le Figaro added, “It’s been thrilling to watch Amelie grow into a top-class player and a well-deserved Grand Slam winner. From the girl then, to the woman now, she has remained bright, witty, warm and sincere. She’s someone you want to write about to inspire the young generation.”

Huge contragulations to Amelie Mauresmo on this acheivement. She deserves it, in my opinion.

Via | Tennis Reporter

Post from: EveryJoe

Amelie Mauresmo Named Player of the Year by Tennis Writer’s Association

Who knew the Williams sister would spend so much time on the news during off season? Yesterday, it was a dog bite, today it’s perjury.

Yikes. They don’t catch a break.

Comcast reports:

The sisters’ attorney, F. Malcolm Cunningham, said the sisters are the only ones who can commit to any contract where money is exchanged for their services.

“Since Venus and Serena have been 18, they sign their own contracts without exception,” Cunningham said outside court. “Nobody signs for them.”

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Jeffrey Winikoff ordered Venus and Serena Williams’ attorneys to turn over to him more than two dozen sponsorship and endorsement agreements by Friday.

Richard Williams has acknowledged drawing up terms of a potential contract for the 2001 event, but he insists he told promoters they would have to go through the IMG sports agency, which represents Venus and Serena, to complete any agreement. The promoters say he made no such disclaimer.

Via | Comcast

Post from: EveryJoe

Williams Family Accused of Perjury

The guard traced the dogs back to Williams’ home using a phone number listed on the Maltese’s dog tag. Williams later told police the dogs got loose after she let them out and that she owned the Maltese but not the pit bull, the report said.

Williams told police she was watching the dog for a friend, the report said.

The dog is registered to Williams, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control assistant director Dennis Yeskey told The Palm Beach Post. Animal control did not have records of Williams owning a Maltese.

Williams’ Web site shows two photographs of a tan pit bull named Bambi. A spokeswoman for Williams declined to comment.

What’s the point of lying? It just makes her look bad.

Via | IHT

Post from: EveryJoe

Serena Williams’ Dog Bites Guard

Andre Agassi and wife, Steffi Graf, team up to face Lindsay Davenport and James Blake in this benefit game sponsored by the Genworth Foundation.

Immediately following the mixed doubles match, Andre Agassi and James Blake will go head-to-head in an exciting men’s pro-set match. The players will compete for charity in these two exciting tennis exhibition matches. Genworth Foundation will donate one hundred percent of the proceeds from this event to nine deserving local charities that provide life-enriching programs for Richmond’s at-risk youth.

The event will support 9 different children’s charities including: Big Brothers Big Sisters Services, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond, Comfort Zone Camp, FRIENDS Association for Children, Greater Richmond SCAN, Richmond Ballet, Science Museum of Virginia, William Byrd Community House, and the YMCA of Greater Richmond.

For more information, please click here.

Post from: EveryJoe

2006 Genworth Children’s Advantage Classic

Others confirmed for the event include former number one, Amelie Mauresmo, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Kim Clijsters, Nadia Petrova, Martina Hingis, Elena Dementieva, Patty Schnyder and Nicole Vaidisova.

That’s nine of the world’s top ten right there. It’s bound to be a great tournament.

Via | ABCsport

Post from: EveryJoe

Sydney International: Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo, Clijsters

Toshio Noji, the Director of the Toray Pan Pacific Open announced that Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, and Elena Dementieva would all be participating in the tournament come January 2007.

More players TBA.

Post from: EveryJoe

Toray Pan Pacific Open: Sharapova, Hingis, Dementieva Confirm